Child sleeping assembly with inclinable sleeping surface

ABSTRACT

A child sleeping assembly includes a floorboard, an adjustable panel movably connected to the floorboard to move between a reclined position and an inclined position, a frame mounted to the floorboard, and a fabric enclosure mounted to the floorboard and the frame. The fabric enclosure has a sidewall and floor that defines an enclosed child sleeping area. The sidewall encircles the child sleeping area. The child sleeping assembly also can include an adjustment element connected to the floorboard and configured to travel in an adjustment track of the panel to control positioning of the panel between the reclined position and the inclined position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a child sleeping assembly. More specifically,this invention relates to a child sleeping assembly with an inclinablesleeping surface to provide comfort to a sleeping child.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Child sleeping assemblies, such as cribs, bassinets, and playards,provide a safe environment in which a child can rest. Typically, thechild sleeping assembly has a flat floorboard with a mattress positionedon top. Younger children generally are positioned by a caregiver on themattress in a supine position to sleep; older children may roll to theirstomach.

An uncomfortable child, such as one having difficulty breathing, mayrest only fitfully if lying flat on his back or on his stomach. To helpthe child breathe easier, the caregiver can elevate one end of themattress to raise the child's head and abdomen relative to his feet in amore comfortable sleeping position. The caregiver may elevate the end ofthe mattress by propping towels or wedges between the mattress and theframe of the sleeping assembly. Manipulating the mattress to a properlyelevated position, however, can be cumbersome and time-consuming.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved child sleeping assemblyto provide a more comfortable sleeping environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a child sleeping assemblycomprises a floorboard, an adjustable panel movably connected to thefloorboard to move between a reclined position and an inclined position,a frame mounted to the floorboard, and a fabric enclosure mounted to theframe. The fabric enclosure has a sidewall that defines an enclosedchild sleeping area. The sidewall encircles the child sleeping area.

According to another aspect of the invention, a child sleeping apparatuscomprises a floorboard; an adjustable panel movably connected to thefloorboard to move between a reclined position and an inclined position,the panel including at least one adjustment track; and an adjustmentelement connected to the floorboard and configured to travel in the atleast one adjustment track to control positioning of the panel betweenthe reclined position and the inclined position.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of a bassinet in which the bassinetfloor and mattress are raised to an inclined position in accordance withthe invention.

FIG. 1B is a top perspective view of the bassinet of FIG. 1A in whichthe bassinet floor and mattress are in a reclined position.

FIG. 1C is a top perspective view of the bassinet of FIG. 1B with themattress pad removed.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the floorboard, adjustable panel,and frame of the bassinet.

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the floorboard, adjustable panel,and frame of the bassinet, showing removal of a rail from the bassinetframe.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view, in cross section, of the hinged connectionbetween the floorboard and the adjustable panel.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the floorboard and the adjustable panel.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the floorboard and the adjustable panel.

FIG. 5A is a bottom perspective view of the floorboard, the adjustablepanel, and the adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the panelbetween the reclined position and the inclined position.

FIG. 5B is another bottom perspective view of the floorboard, theadjustable panel, and the adjustment mechanism.

FIGS. 6A-6C are side elevation views of the floorboard, the adjustablepanel, and the adjustment mechanism that show the panel positioned atvarious angles relative to the floorboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodimentsof the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbersthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a bassinet 100 that includes an adjustablepanel movably connected to the bassinet floorboard so that the head,shoulders, and abdominal area of a child sleeping in the bassinet can beraised relative to the child's feet, as will be described in more detailbelow. FIG. 1A shows a child lying in the bassinet 100 with theadjustable panel positioned in an inclined position. In this position,the panel serves to elevate the mattress in the area of the child's headand abdomen. Elevating the child's head, shoulders, and abdomen can helpan uncomfortable child, for example, one having difficulty breathing, tobreathe easier. FIG. 1B shows a child lying in the bassinet 100 with theadjustable panel positioned in a reclined position. In the reclinedposition, the panel lies flush with the bassinet floorboard, creating aflat surface, and the child can lie in a supine position, as shown inFIG. 1B, or on his/her stomach on the mattress.

The bassinet 100 includes a fabric enclosure 110. The fabric enclosure110 has a sidewall 112 that defines an enclosed child sleeping area 116.The sidewall 112 encircles the child sleeping area; that is, thesidewall 112 passes completely around the child sleeping area, thoughnot necessarily in a circle. In the illustrated embodiment, theenclosure 110 also can include a floor 114, and a mattress 118 can bepositioned above the floor 114, as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 1A and1C. FIG. 1C shows the fabric enclosure 110 with the mattress 118removed, exposing the floor 114. The mattress 118 can be soft, padded,and flexible to provide a comfortable sleeping surface. In analternative embodiment, the mattress 118 can be built into the floor114, for example, by sandwiching soft, padded mattress material betweentop and bottom layers of floor material.

The fabric enclosure 110 can include a ventilation panel 120, asdescribed in co-pending application Ser. No. ______, filed Mar. 25, 2004in the name of Jon DeHart et al. and entitled CHILD CONTAINMENTSTRUCTURE WITH VENTILATION PANEL, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety. The ventilation panel 120 is incorporated intothe sidewall 112 of the bassinet 100, strategically located between thefloor 114 and a side panel 122 of the sidewall 112, so that adequate airflow occurs between an interior of the bassinet 100 and an exterior ofthe bassinet 100 along the surface of the floor 114 and, if present, themattress 118. As can be seen best in FIG. 1C, the ventilation panel 120gradually increases in height as the panel nears the inclinable end ofthe bassinet 100. The increase in height of the ventilation panel 120enables adjustment of the panel to the inclined position, whilepreserving the air flow across the upper surface of the mattress 118. Inthe elevated condition, the upper surface of the mattress 118 remainsbelow the upper edge of the ventilation panel 120, as seen in FIG. 1A,so that air can pass freely between the interior and the exterior of thebassinet 100 along the upper surface of the mattress 118. In oneembodiment, the ventilation panel 120 is configured so that, when theadjustable panel is in the inclined position, the ventilation panel 120remains about 1 inch above the mattress 118.

The enclosure 110 also can include an outer skirt 124. The outer skirt124 can be sewn to the side panel 122 and can hang outside the bassinetframe to provide a decorative look to the bassinet 100, as seen in FIGS.1A-1C.

The floorboard 200 and the adjustable panel 210 of the bassinet 100 canbe seen in FIG. 2. The panel 210 can have a length that is less than twothirds, or, more preferably, less than or equal to half, the length ofthe floorboard 200. The adjustable panel 210 is movably connected to thefloorboard 200 to move between the reclined position and the inclinedposition. The floorboard 200 includes a lower rim area 202 upon whichthe panel 210 can lie when in the reclined position.

In addition to the floorboard 200, the panel 210, and the enclosure 110,the bassinet 100 also includes a frame 220. The frame 220 is mounted tothe floorboard and serves to support the fabric enclosure 110. The frame220 includes four posts 222 and an upper rail assembly 224. The posts222 each have first ends mounted to the floorboard 200 and second endsthat connect to the upper rail assembly 224 via brackets 226A, 226B,226C. The upper rail assembly 224 includes a first rail 224A and asecond rail 224B connected to the first rail 224A. The first rail 224Acan include a bowed shape at either end of the bassinet 100 so that thefabric enclosure 110 can be higher at either end of the bassinet 100than in the middle. The second rail 224B can be removed from thebassinet 100 to create an access into the interior of the bassinet 100,as shown in FIG. 2A, effectively enabling the bassinet 100 to be pulledalongside a parent's bed in a co-sleeper or bedside sleeper arrangement.The second rail 224B can be removed from the bassinet 100 by lifting oneend of the second rail off of bracket 226B and sliding the other end ofthe second rail out of bracket 226C. The frame 220 further includes athird rail 228 to support the enclosure 110 when the second rail isremoved, ensuring that the enclosure 110, when supported by the firstrail 224A and the third rail 228, continues to encircle the childsleeping area so that the child will not inadvertently roll out of thebassinet 100. The frame 220 also can include a fourth rail 230, oppositethe third rail 228. It will be understood that the rail assembly 224 canhave configurations different than shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the adjustable panel 210 in the inclined position. In oneembodiment, the panel 210 is designed to have an incline angle ofapproximately 50 degrees relative to the floorboard 200. In otherembodiments, the panel can have a different incline angle or multipleincline angles relative to the floorboard.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 2-4, the floorboard 200 has opposing sideedges 200A, 200B, and the panel 210 is movably mounted to the floorboard200 along an axis that extends between the side edges 200A, 200B. Thepanel 210 can pivot relative to the floorboard 200 about that axis. Thepanel 210 is movably connected to the floorboard 200 by a series ofhinges 250. FIG. 2B shows a cross section of a hinge 250. That is, thefloorboard includes posts 252 extending between cut-out portions 254′ ofan edge surface 254 of the floorboard that abuts an opposing edgesurface 214 of panel 210. Extending from the edge surface 214 of panel210 are hinge members 256 that are rotationally coupled the respectiveposts 252 to enable movement of the panel 210 relative to the floorboard200. The hinge elements 252, 256 are integrally formed with thefloorboard 200 and the panel 210, respectively. The hinge members 256are flexible thin sections of plastic molded as part of the panel 210.

The panel 210 has a length that is less than two-thirds the length ofthe floorboard 200, sufficient to elevate the head and abdomen of achild, and, in the illustrated embodiment, the panel 210 is sized sothat an axis defined by the hinges 250 bisects the floorboard 200, asshown best in FIGS. 3-4. As an alternative to hinges 250, the panel 210can be movably connected to the floorboard 200 by any suitablecooperating mechanical hinge(s). As another alternative to hinges 250,the panel 210 can be connected to the floorboard 200 by living hinges,that is, by thinned, bendable pieces of plastic extending between thepanel 210 and the floorboard 200.

The panel 210 includes an opening 260 that creates a grip 262 adapted tobe gripped by a caregiver to facilitate movement of the panel from thereclined position to the inclined position, as best seen in FIG. 3. Tomove the panel 210 from the inclined position to the reclined position,the panel 210 includes an actuator, for example, strap 270 that extendsthrough a second opening 272 in the panel 210. The actuator cooperateswith at least one adjustment element coupled to the floorboard 200 tomove the panel 210 to its reclined position, as will be described inmore detail below.

As can be seen from FIG. 1C, the floor 114 of the enclosure 110 includesan opening above the grip opening 260 so that, when the mattress 118 isremoved, the caregiver can lift the panel 210 easily. Similarly, thefloor 114 includes an opening through which the strap 270 can extend foreasy access by a caregiver.

The mechanism that allows adjustment of the panel 210 between thereclined position and the inclined position will now be described inconnection with FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6C. The panel 210 includes at leastone adjustment track and, in the illustrated embodiment, two adjustmenttracks 280, as can best be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B. An adjustmentelement, which is a bent rod 290 in the illustrated embodiment, isconnected to the floorboard 200 and is configured to travel in theadjustment tracks 280 to control positioning of the panel 210 betweenthe reclined position and the inclined position. Each adjustment track280 has a first end 282 that defines a first position corresponding tothe reclined position, a second end 284 that defines a second positioncorresponding to the inclined position, and a bent travel area 286therebetween. FIG. 5A shows the rod 290 positioned at the first ends 282of the adjustment tracks 280; accordingly, the panel 210 is in thereclined position. FIG. 5B shows the rod 290 positioned along the travelareas 286 of the adjustment tracks 280, near the second ends 284;accordingly, the panel 210 is approaching the inclined position.

The rod 290 has a bent shape that includes two arms 292 rotatably fixedto opposite sides of the floorboard 210 by brackets 218, a single arm294 that rides along tracks 280, and two connecting arms 296 thatconnect arms 292 to opposite ends of single arm 294. The rod 290 can bea rigid wire, a rigid plastic material, or a combination of the two.

The strap 270 is coupled to the single arm 294 of the rod 290, as shownin FIGS. 5A and 5B. The strap 270 extends through the opening 272 in thepanel 210 so that a caregiver can lift up on the strap 270 to move therod 290 from the second position at the second end 284 of the tracks280, as shown in FIG. 6A, toward the bend in travel areas 286, as shownin FIG. 6B. At that time, the caregiver can release the strap 270, andthe rod 290 can travel along the travel areas 286 to the first ends 284of the tracks 280, as shown in FIG. 6C, until the panel 210 is flushwith the floorboard 200 in the reclined position.

In an alternative embodiment, the rod 290 can be configured to extendacross only one half the width of the panel 210, through just one of thetracks 280, yet still support the weight of the panel 210 and a childlying against the panel 210 when the panel 210 is in the inclinedposition.

The fabric enclosure 110 can be attached to the frame 220 by securingVelcro® straps or cords (not shown) on the enclosure 110 to thefloorboard 210 and the upper rail assembly 224. The straps or cords canbe passed through slots in the floorboard 210, and straps or cords canbe secured around the first and second rails 224A, 224B of the upperrail assembly 224. In addition, elastic loops (not shown) mounted to theexterior of the enclosure 110, about the perimeter of the floor 114, canbe secured to hooks 300 on an underside of the floorboard 210. The hooks300 can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 6A. An example of how to mount theenclosure 112 to the floorboard 200 and upper rail assembly 224 isdescribed in co-pending application Ser. No. ______, filed Mar. 25, 2004in the name of Joshua E. Clapper et al. and entitled BASSINET ANDCHANGING TABLE ASSEMBLY, which is incorporated by reference herein inits entirety. The strap 270 can be pulled through the strap opening infloor 114 before mattress 116 is placed on floor 114. Further, as seenin FIG. 1A, the enclosure 110 can include a flap section 130, securedalong seam lines 132 to the remaining portions of the enclosure 110 byVelcro®, that can be lowered when the second rail 224B is removed fromthe first rail 224A.

In an alternative embodiment, in which the fabric enclosure 110 has asidewall 112 but no floor 114, the enclosure 110 can be attached to theframe 220 only. For example, the enclosure 110 can include inner andouter layers, open at their bottom ends, so that the enclosure can beslid over the upper rail assembly 224 of the frame 220 and secured tothe frame 220. The enclosure of this alternative embodiment also couldbe secured to the floorboard 200, if desired. In addition, in thisalternative embodiment, the mattress 118 can be positioned above anddirectly on the floorboard 200 and the panel 210.

The bassinet 100 also can include a canopy 400 that can be removablymounted to slots 410 in brackets 1012 mounted to first and second rails224A, 224B. Further, the bassinet 100 can be mounted to a changing tableand/or frame (not shown), as described in co-pending application SerialNo. ______, filed Mar. 25, 2004 in the name of Joshua E. Clapper et al.and entitled BASSINET AND CHANGING TABLE ASSEMBLY.

In an alternative embodiment of the bassinet, the floorboard 200 couldbe provided on one side of the bassinet and the panel 210 could providedon the opposite side of the bassinet, and the two could be connected bya cooperating mechanical hinge. For example, the floorboard 200 and thepanel 210 could be mirror images of each other, disposed opposite eachother, to form a sleeping surface for a child. In this alternativeembodiment, the floorboard and the panel could include frame members,such as U-shaped tubes, about their periphery to which an enclosurecould attach so that the enclosure would remain in the same positioneven when the panel 210 was moved to an inclined position relative tothe floorboard 200.

Other ways to achieve an elevated sleeping surface in a bassinet includeproviding a removable wedge-shaped rigid member that a user can placeunder the mattress pad, securing a wedge-shaped rigid member directly tothe mattress pad, or installing adjustable straps to the bassinet thatare suspended from the top rail of the bassinet frame and extend underthe mattress pad to support the mattress pad in raised and loweredpositions.

Although the figures and the foregoing description primarily focus onone type of child sleeping assembly, namely, a bassinet, it will beunderstood that other types of child sleeping assemblies, such as cribsand playards, can include a floorboard, an adjustable panel movablyconnected to the floorboard to move between a reclined position and aninclined position, a frame mounted to the floorboard, and a fabricenclosure mounted to the floorboard and the frame, wherein the fabricenclosure has a sidewall and floor that defines an enclosed childsleeping area, and the sidewall encircles the child sleeping area.Further, other types of child sleeping assemblies can include afloorboard, an adjustable panel movably connected to the floorboard tomove between a reclined position and an inclined position, and anadjustment element connected to the floorboard, wherein the panelincludes at least one adjustment track, and the adjustment element isconfigured to travel in the adjustment track to control positioning ofthe panel between the reclined position and the inclined position.

The preferred embodiments have been set forth herein for the purpose ofillustration. This description, however, should not be deemed to be alimitation on the scope of the invention. Various modifications,adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the claimed inventive concept. The true scope andspirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

1. A child sleeping assembly, comprising: a floorboard; an adjustablepanel movably connected to the floorboard to move between a reclinedposition and an inclined position; a frame mounted to the floorboard;and a fabric enclosure mounted to the frame, the fabric enclosure havinga sidewall that defines an enclosed child sleeping area, the sidewallencircling the child sleeping area.
 2. A child sleeping assemblyaccording to claim 1, further including a mattress positionable abovethe floorboard and the panel.
 3. A child sleeping assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the fabric has a floor positionable above thefloorboard and the panel.
 4. A child sleeping assembly according toclaim 3, further including a mattress positionable above the floor.
 5. Achild sleeping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the panel has alength that is less than two thirds the length of the floorboard.
 6. Achild sleeping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floorboardhas opposing side edges, and the panel is movably connected to thefloorboard along an axis that extends between the side edges.
 7. A childsleeping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel includes agrip adapted to be gripped by a user to facilitate movement of the panelfrom the reclined position to the inclined position.
 8. A child sleepingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the panel includes at least oneadjustment track, and the apparatus further comprises an adjustmentelement connected to the floorboard and configured to travel in the atleast one adjustment track to control positioning of the panel betweenthe reclined position and the inclined position.
 9. A child sleepingapparatus according to claim 8, wherein the adjustment element is a rod.10. A child sleeping apparatus according to claim 8, further comprisingan actuator coupled to the adjustment element to move the adjustmentelement from a first position along the adjustment track correspondingto the reclined position to a second position along the adjustment trackcorresponding to the inclined position.
 11. A child sleeping apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the actuator is a strap.
 12. A childsleeping apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment trackis located on a bottom side of the panel, and the strap extends from theadjustment element adjacent the bottom side of the panel, through anaperture in the panel, to a top side of the panel.
 13. A child sleepingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floorboard includes a rimupon which the panel rests in the reclined position.
 14. A childsleeping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising curvedsupports mounted to a bottom side of the floorboard.
 15. A childsleeping apparatus, comprising: a floorboard; an adjustable panelmovably connected to the floorboard to move between a reclined positionand an inclined position, the panel including at least one adjustmenttrack; and an adjustment element connected to the floorboard andconfigured to travel in the at least one adjustment track to controlpositioning of the panel between the reclined position and the inclinedposition.
 16. A child sleeping apparatus according to claim 15, furthercomprising an enclosure mounted to the frame, the fabric enclosurehaving a sidewall that defines an enclosed child sleeping area, thesidewall encircling the child sleeping area.
 17. A child sleepingassembly according to claim 16, further including a mattresspositionable above the floorboard and the panel.
 18. A child sleepingassembly according to claim 16, wherein the fabric has a floorpositionable above the floorboard and the panel.
 19. A child sleepingassembly according to claim 18, further including a mattresspositionable above the floor.
 20. A child sleeping apparatus accordingto claim 15, wherein the panel has a length that is less than two thirdsthe length of the floorboard.
 21. A child sleeping apparatus accordingto claim 15, wherein the floorboard has opposing side edges, and thepanel is movably connected to the floorboard along an axis that extendsbetween the side edges.
 22. A child sleeping apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein the panel includes a grip adapted to be gripped by auser to facilitate movement of the panel from the reclined position tothe inclined position.
 23. A child sleeping apparatus according to claim15, wherein the adjustment element is a rod.
 24. A child sleepingapparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an actuator coupledto the adjustment element to move the adjustment element from a firstposition along the adjustment track corresponding to the reclinedposition to a second position along the adjustment track correspondingto the inclined position.
 25. A child sleeping apparatus according toclaim 24, wherein the actuator is a strap.
 26. A child sleepingapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the floorboard includes a rimupon which the panel rests in the reclined position.
 27. A childsleeping apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising curvedsupports mounted to a bottom side of the floorboard.